Samsung ordered to pay $11.6 million to Swatch Group over trademark infringement

A UK High Court judge has ordered Samsung Electronics to pay $11.6 million to Swatch Group following a trademark infringement ruling. The dispute centered on digital smartwatch faces available through the Samsung Galaxy App Store that mimicked the designs of luxury brands owned by Swatch, including Omega, Breguet, Longines, Blancpain, and Tissot.

While the infringing apps were created by third-party developers rather than Samsung itself, the court found that Samsung was liable because it controlled aspects of the app approval and distribution process. The judge noted that hosting these designs—which were available for free or at very low costs—could damage the exclusivity and brand image of luxury watchmakers, comparing the availability of these digital faces to placing luxury trademarks on supermarket shelves.

The apps involved in the case were downloaded approximately 160,000 times across the UK and European Union between 2015 and 2019. Although Swatch Group had initially sought approximately $170 million in damages, the final awarded amount was significantly lower, reflecting Samsung's arguments regarding the actual economic impact.